A BOATING holiday ended in disaster for two Huddersfield couples - just two hours after it began.

The four in their late 30s had hired a narrow boat from Shepley Bridge Marina in Mirfield yesterday teatime and planned a week-long holiday touring the Pennine canal network.

But things soon took a turn for the worse when some rope got caught around the propeller while they were familiarising themselves with the boat on the River Colne at Colne Bridge.

They lifted an inspection hatch and managed to cut the rope off the propeller and replaced the hatch. But it was not secured properly and when they set off again, shortly before 8pm, water poured through it and into the boat.

As the water level rose, it reached the cooker and sent plumes of steam rising into the air.

Onlookers thought the boat was on fire and alerted firefighters.

Crews from Huddersfield and Brighouse raced to the scene, near the sewage works off Bridge Road.

Station Officer Dave Rawnsley, of Huddersfield fire station, said: "The boat was not on fire, but it was sinking and when we arrived the water was waist-deep inside.

"They had managed to steer the boat against a 15ft-high concrete wall next to the sewage farm and one of the men had managed to help the other three off the boat.

"But when he tried to scramble up the wall he fell back into it and hurt his back, so it turned into a rescue operation for us."

Firefighters secured the leaking hatch and lifted the man off the boat so he could be checked by paramedics. He did not need hospital treatment.

Station Officer Rawnsley added: "The water had badly damaged the inside of the boat, soaking all their clothes and possessions.

"We salvaged what we could for them and they called it a day and went home in a taxi. I doubt they'll be going on a narrow boat again for a long time."

Firefighters pumped the water from the boat and re-floated it.

The 45ft-long boat, called Imogen, is one of five owned by Shepley Bridge Marina. It has carpets, Dralon upholstery, a TV and gas central heating.